Numbers

Numbers 13:17–24

¹⁷When Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, he told them, “Go up through the Negev and into the hill country. ¹⁸See what the land is like and whether its people are strong or weak, few or many. ¹⁹Is the land where they live good or bad? Are the cities where they dwell open camps or fortifications? ²⁰Is the soil fertile or unproductive? Are there trees in it or not? Be courageous and bring back some of the fruit of the land.” (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.)

²¹So they went up and spied out the land from the Wilderness of Zin as far as Rehob, toward Lebo-hamath. ²²They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, dwelled. It had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.

²³When they came to the Valley of Eshcol,^b they cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes, which they carried on a pole between two men. They also took some pomegranates and figs. ²⁴Because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites cut there, that place was called the Valley of Eshcol.

Footnotes

b 13:23 Eshcol means cluster; also in verse 24.

Read all of Numbers 13

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Numbers 13:17

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
When Moses	מֹשֶׁ֔ה	mō·šeh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H4872 Moses
sent	וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח	way·yiš·laḥ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7971 send
them	אֹתָם֙	’ō·ṯām	Direct object marker; third person masculine plural	H853 mark of the accusative
to spy out	לָת֖וּר	lā·ṯūr	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H8446 seek out, spy out, explore
the land	אֶ֣רֶץ	’e·reṣ	Noun - feminine singular construct	H776 earth, land
of Canaan	כְּנָ֑עַן	kə·nā·‘an	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3667 Canaan
he told	וַיֹּ֣אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
them	אֲלֵהֶ֗ם	’ă·lê·hem	Preposition; third person masculine plural	H413 motion to
Go up	עֲל֥וּ	‘ă·lū	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural	H5927 go up, ascend, climb
through the Negev	בַּנֶּ֔גֶב	ban·ne·ḡeḇ	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H5045 south-country, Negeb, south
and	וַעֲלִיתֶ֖ם	wa·‘ă·lî·ṯem	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural	H5927 go up, ascend, climb
into the hill country	הָהָֽר׃	hā·hār	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H2022 mountain, hill, hill-country

Numbers 13:18

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
See	וּרְאִיתֶ֥ם	ū·rə·’î·ṯem	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural	H7200 see
what	מַה־	mah-	Interrogative	H4100 what? how? aught
the land	הָאָ֖רֶץ	hā·’ā·reṣ	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H776 earth, land
is like	הִ֑וא	hî	Pronoun - third person feminine singular	H1931 he, she
and	וְאֶת־	wə·’eṯ-	Conjunctive waw; Direct object marker	H853 mark of the accusative
whether its people	הָעָם֙	hā·‘ām	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5971 people
are strong	הֶחָזָ֥ק	he·ḥā·zāq	Article; Adjective - masculine singular	H2389 strong, stout, mighty
or weak	הֲרָפֶ֔ה	hă·rā·p̄eh	Article; Adjective - masculine singular	H7504 slack
few	הַמְעַ֥ט	ham·‘aṭ	Article; Adjective - masculine singular	H4592 a little, fewness, a few
or	אִם־	’im-	Conjunction	H518 if
many	רָֽב׃	rāḇ	Adjective - masculine singular	H7227 much, many, great

Numbers 13:19

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Is the land	הָאָ֗רֶץ	hā·’ā·reṣ	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H776 earth, land
where	אֲשֶׁר־	’ă·šer-	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
they	הוּא֙	hū	Pronoun - third person masculine singular	H1931 he, she
live	יֹשֵׁ֣ב	yō·šêḇ	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H3427 sit, remain, dwell
good	הֲטוֹבָ֥ה	hă·ṭō·w·ḇāh	Article; Adjective - feminine singular	H2896 pleasant, agreeable, good
or	אִם־	’im-	Conjunction	H518 if
bad	רָעָ֑ה	rā·‘āh	Adjective - feminine singular	H7451 bad, evil
Are the cities	הֶֽעָרִ֗ים	he·‘ā·rîm	Article; Noun - feminine plural	H5892 excitement
where	אֲשֶׁר־	’ă·šer-	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
they	הוּא֙	hū	Pronoun - third person masculine singular	H1931 he, she
dwell	יוֹשֵׁ֣ב	yō·wō·šêḇ	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H3427 sit, remain, dwell
open camps	הַבְּמַֽחֲנִ֖ים	hab·bə·ma·ḥă·nîm	Article, Preposition-b; Noun - common plural	H4264 encampment, camp
or	אִ֥ם	’im	Conjunction	H518 if
fortifications	בְּמִבְצָרִֽים׃	bə·miḇ·ṣā·rîm	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine plural	H4013 fortification

Numbers 13:20

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Is the soil	הָ֠אָרֶץ	hā·’ā·reṣ	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H776 earth, land
fertile	הַשְּׁמֵנָ֨ה	haš·šə·mê·nāh	Article; Adjective - feminine singular	H8082 fat, robust
or	אִם־	’im-	Conjunction	H518 if
unproductive	רָזָ֗ה	rā·zāh	Adjective - feminine singular	H7330 lean
Are there	הֲיֵֽשׁ־	hă·yêš-	Adverb	H3426 being, substance, existence
trees	עֵץ֙	‘êṣ	Noun - masculine singular	H6086 tree, trees, wood
in it	בָּ֥הּ	bāh	Preposition; third person feminine singular
or	אִם־	’im-	Conjunction	H518 if
not	אַ֔יִן	’a·yin	Adverb	H369 nothing, nought
Be courageous	וְהִ֨תְחַזַּקְתֶּ֔ם	wə·hiṯ·ḥaz·zaq·tem	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hitpael - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural	H2388 be or grow firm, strong, strengthen
and bring back	וּלְקַחְתֶּ֖ם	ū·lə·qaḥ·tem	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural	H3947 take
some of the fruit	מִפְּרִ֣י	mip·pə·rî	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular construct	H6529 fruit
of the land	הָאָ֑רֶץ	hā·’ā·reṣ	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H776 earth, land
It was the season	וְהַ֨יָּמִ֔ים	wə·hay·yā·mîm	Conjunctive waw, Article; Noun - masculine plural	H3117 day
for the first ripe	בִּכּוּרֵ֥י	bik·kū·rê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H1061 first-fruits
grapes	עֲנָבִֽים׃	‘ă·nā·ḇîm	Noun - masculine plural	H6025 grape(s)

Numbers 13:21

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So they went up	וַֽיַּעֲל֖וּ	way·ya·‘ă·lū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5927 go up, ascend, climb
and spied out	וַיָּתֻ֣רוּ	way·yā·ṯu·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H8446 seek out, spy out, explore
the land	הָאָ֑רֶץ	hā·’ā·reṣ	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H776 earth, land
from the Wilderness	מִמִּדְבַּר־	mim·miḏ·bar-	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular construct	H4057 mouth
of Zin	צִ֥ן	ṣin	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H6790 Tsin
as	עַד־	‘aḏ-	Preposition	H5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
far as Rehob	רְחֹ֖ב	rə·ḥōḇ	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H7340 Rechob
toward Lebo-hamath	חֲמָֽת׃	ḥă·māṯ	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H2574 Chamath

Numbers 13:22

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
They went up	וַיַּעֲל֣וּ	way·ya·‘ă·lū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5927 go up, ascend, climb
through the Negev	בַנֶּגֶב֮	ḇan·ne·ḡeḇ	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H5045 south-country, Negeb, south
and came	וַיָּבֹ֣א	way·yā·ḇō	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
to	עַד־	‘aḏ-	Preposition	H5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
Hebron	חֶבְרוֹן֒	ḥeḇ·rō·wn	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H2275 Hebron
where	וְשָׁ֤ם	wə·šām	Conjunctive waw; Adverb	H8033 there, thither
Ahiman	אֲחִימַן֙	’ă·ḥî·man	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H289 Achiman
Sheshai	שֵׁשַׁ֣י	šê·šay	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H8344 Sheshai
and Talmai	וְתַלְמַ֔י	wə·ṯal·may	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper	H8526 Talmai
the descendants	יְלִידֵ֖י	yə·lî·ḏê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H3211 born
of Anak	הָעֲנָ֑ק	hā·‘ă·nāq	Article; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H6061 neck
dwelled	וְחֶבְר֗וֹן	wə·ḥeḇ·rō·wn	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H2275 Hebron
It had been built	נִבְנְתָ֔ה	niḇ·nə·ṯāh	Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular	H1129 build
seven	שֶׁ֤בַע	še·ḇa‘	Number - feminine singular	H7651 seven
years	שָׁנִים֙	šā·nîm	Noun - feminine plural	H8141 year
before	לִפְנֵ֖י	lip̄·nê	Preposition-l; Noun - common plural construct	H6440 face, before
Zoan	צֹ֥עַן	ṣō·‘an	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H6814 Tanis
in Egypt	מִצְרָֽיִם׃	miṣ·rā·yim	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H4714 Egypt, Egyptians

Numbers 13:23

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
When they came	וַיָּבֹ֜אוּ	way·yā·ḇō·’ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H935 come in, come, go in, go
to	עַד־	‘aḏ-	Preposition	H5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
the Valley	נַ֣חַל	na·ḥal	Noun - masculine singular construct	H5158 torrent, torrent-valley, wady
of Eshcol	אֶשְׁכֹּ֗ל	’eš·kōl	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H812 Eshcol
they cut down	וַיִּכְרְת֨וּ	way·yiḵ·rə·ṯū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H3772 cut off, cut down
a branch	זְמוֹרָה֙	zə·mō·w·rāh	Noun - feminine singular	H2156 branch, twig, shoot
with a single	אֶחָ֔ד	’e·ḥāḏ	Number - masculine singular	H259 one
cluster	וְאֶשְׁכּ֤וֹל	wə·’eš·kō·wl	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct	H811 cluster
of grapes	עֲנָבִים֙	‘ă·nā·ḇîm	Noun - masculine plural	H6025 grape(s)
which they carried	וַיִּשָּׂאֻ֥הוּ	way·yiś·śā·’u·hū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural; third person masculine singular	H5375 lift, take, carry
on a pole	בַמּ֖וֹט	ḇam·mō·wṭ	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4132 shaking, pole, bar (of yoke)
between two men	בִּשְׁנָ֑יִם	biš·nā·yim	Preposition-b; Number - md	H8147 two
They also took some	וּמִן־	ū·min-	Conjunctive waw; Preposition	H4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
pomegranates	הָרִמֹּנִ֖ים	hā·rim·mō·nîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H7416 pomegranate
and figs	הַתְּאֵנִֽים׃	hat·tə·’ê·nîm	Article; Noun - feminine plural	H8384 fig

Numbers 13:24

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Because of	עַ֚ל	‘al	Preposition	H5921 height
the cluster	הָֽאֶשְׁכּ֔וֹל	hā·’eš·kō·wl	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H811 cluster
of grapes the Israelites	בְּנֵ֥י	bə·nê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H1121 son
cut	כָּרְת֥וּ	kā·rə·ṯū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H3772 cut off, cut down
there	מִשָּׁ֖ם	miš·šām	Preposition-m; Adverb	H8033 there, thither
that	הַה֔וּא	ha·hū	Article; Pronoun - third person masculine singular	H1931 he, she
place	לַמָּק֣וֹם	lam·mā·qō·wm	Preposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4725 standing, spot, condition
was called	קָרָ֖א	qā·rā	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H7121 call, proclaim, read
the Valley	נַ֣חַל	na·ḥal	Noun - masculine singular construct	H5158 torrent, torrent-valley, wady
of Eshcol	אֶשְׁכּ֑וֹל	’eš·kō·wl	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H812 Eshcol